Echinacea plant named ‘Balevoelf’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Echinacea  plant named ‘Balevoelf’, characterized by its single-type, yellow-orange colored inflorescences, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact-upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Echinacea x hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balevoelf’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant botanically known as Echinacea x hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balevoelf’.

The new Echinacea cultivar is a novel seedling selection from ‘Cheyenne Spirit’, protected under a breeding method claim in U.S. Pat. No. 7,982,110, a segregating mix characterized by single-type inflorescences having a range of flower colors that include shades of red, orange, purple, scarlet, cream, yellow and white, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered as a whole plant and selected during July 2014 in a controlled environment in Dayton, Oreg.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by in vitro shoot propagation since May 2015 in Dayton, Oreg. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balevoelf’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant:

-   -   1. Single-type, yellow-orange colored inflorescences;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Moderately vigorous, compact-upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the parent primarily in having a novel combination of characteristics including ray floret color, ray floret size, and plant habit.

Of the many commercially available Echinacea cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is SOMBRERO Sandy Yellow ‘Balsomselo’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,104. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balsomselo’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have more inflorescences per plant         than plants of ‘Balsomselo’;     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a ray floret color that is         darker yellow-orange than plants of ‘Balsomselo’; and     -   3. Plants of the new cultivar are shorter than plants of         ‘Balsomselo’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical inflorescence and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balevoelf’. The plants were approximately five months old and grown in Elburn, Ill. in one-gallon containers for approximately three months.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balevoelf’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of ‘Balevoelf’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in July 2018 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately five-month old plants produced from in vitro plantlets and grown utilizing a soilless growth medium under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in Elburn, Ill. in one-gallon containers in a glass-covered greenhouse for approximately three months. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 60° F. to 65° F. (15.5° C. to 18.3° C.) during the day and approximately 55° F. to 60° F. (12.7° C. to 15.5° C.) during the night. No supplemental lighting was provided. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Echinacea x hybrida ‘Balevoelf’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Parent.—‘Cheyenne Spirit’, protected under breeding method             claim of U.S. Pat. No. 7,982,110. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—In vitro propagation is preferred, divisions are             possible.         -   Time to initiate roots in vitro.—Approximately 30 days at             18° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plantlet in summer.—Approximately             30 days at 18° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; grey to light brown in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderate density, moderate branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 10 to 12 weeks from a             rooted tissue culture plantlet to finish in a 15 cm             container.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Herbaceous perennial,             moderately vigorous, compact-upright.         -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 5a (−20° F. to −15° F./−28.9° C. to             −26° C.).         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 36.0 cm. Width: Approximately 51.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—No lateral branching, flowering stems grow             from base. Quantity of main stems per plant: Approximately             29.         -   Stems.—Strength: Very strong. Aspect: Nearly erect. Shape:             Rounded. Length to base of inflorescence: Approximately             32.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm to 6.0 mm. Length of             central internode: Approximately 5.0 cm. Texture: Densely             pubescent with short strigose hairs. Color of young stems:             146C. Color of mature stems: 146B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Form: Simple. Arrangement: Alternate.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular to stem, subtending with age.             Shape: Narrowly ovate to lanceolate. Margin: Entire to             shallowly serrate, slightly undulate. Apex: Acute. Base:             Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf:             Approximately 12.5 cm to 14.0 cm. Width of mature leaf:             Approximately 3.0 cm to 4.0 cm. Texture of upper surface:             Dull, moderately pubescent with short strigose hairs.             Texture of lower surface: Moderately pubescent with short             strigose hairs. Color of upper surface of young and mature             foliage: Closest to NN137A with venation of 147C. Color of             lower surface of young and mature foliage: Closest to 137B             with venation of 147D.         -   Petiole.—Shape: V-shaped. Length: Approximately 4.0 cm to             11.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture of upper             surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Sparsely             covered with very short strigose hairs. Color of upper and             lower surfaces: 147D. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balevoelf’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions blooming from late spring through             late summer.         -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the             plant.—Approximately 3 weeks. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Solitary, composite. Persistent.             Shape: Conical. Aspect: Facing upward. Arrangement:             Terminal, held upright on strong peduncles. Fragrance:             Faintly sweet. Quantity per plant: Approximately 23. Height:             Approximately 4.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 8.5 cm.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect to approximately             45° from vertical. Length: Approximately 12.5 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 3.0 mm to 4.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent             with short strigose hairs. Color: 146B.         -   Bud.—Quantity per plant: Approximately 5. Shape: Flattened             globular with immature ray florets nearly erect. Length:             Approximately 1.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.7 cm. Color:             Outer ray florets of 150C; bud center of 143A.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 24.             Arrangement: In a single whorl, some slightly imbricate.             Aspect: Perpendicular to disc, subtending slightly with age.             Shape: Elliptic to narrowly obovate. Appearance: Dull.             Margin: Entire. Apex: Emarginate to notched. Base:             Attenuate. Length: Approximately 4.3 cm. Width:             Approximately 1.0 cm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous,             ribbed longitudinally. Texture of lower surface: Sparsely             pubescent, ribbed longitudinally. Color of upper surface             when first open: 11B to 11A tinted with 144A at apex. Color             of lower surface when first open: 11D tinted with 144A at             apex. Color of upper surface when fully open: 20B to 20A,             with age darkening to 23A. Color of lower surface when fully             open: 19D with 144B at apex.         -   Disc florets.—Disc diameter: Approximately 4.0 cm. Quantity             per inflorescence: Approximately 300. Arrangement: Spirally             arranged in center of inflorescence. Shape: Tubular. Margin             of free portion: Entire. Apex: Five acute tips. Base: Fused             into a tube. Length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of upper or             inner surface when first and fully open: 146C. Color of             lower or outer surface when first and fully open: 146C and             base of 155D.         -   Receptacle.—Shape: Conical. Height: Approximately 1.5 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 1.2 cm. Color: 155D.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence Approximately 50.             Arrangement: In whorls. Appearance: Dull, stiff. Shape:             Narrowly ovate to lanceolate, strongly curved towards the             peduncle. Margin: Entire, ciliate. Apex: Acute. Base:             Truncate. Length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Width: Approximately             2.0 mm to 3.0 mm. Texture of upper or inner surface:             Glabrous. Texture of lower or outer surface: Sparsely             pubescent with short strigose hairs. Color of upper surface:             137A. Color of lower surface: 137B.         -   Receptacle spines.—Number of spines per disc:             Approximately 300. Shape: Acicular. Length: Approximately             1.4 cm. Width at widest point: Approximately 2.0 mm. Apex:             Acute. Base: Truncate. Texture: Glabrous. Color: Apex of             22A, mid-section of 144A with 137A, and base of 155D.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Stamen quantity: 5 per floret. Anther shape: Oblong,             basifixed. Anther length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Anther             color: Closest to 203B. Filament length: Approximately             2.0 mm. Filament color: 145D. Pollen amount: Moderate.             Pollen color: 17B. Gynoecium: Present on disc florets only.             Pistil quantity: 1 per floret. Pistil length: Approximately             1.1 cm. Stigma shape: Bifid, curled. Stigma length:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Stigma color: 152D. Style length:             Approximately 7.0 mm. Style color: 145D. Ovary length:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Ovary color: 155D. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: No particular resistance or     susceptibility to other diseases or insects noted to date. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant named ‘Balevoelf’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 